COCOBOD Gets US$1.8 Billion From Parliament

Parliament, has approved a US$1.8 billion loan facility for the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for the purchase of cocoa beans for the next crop season.
COCOBOD, is expected to use the funds raised from seven banks to purchase about 900 thousand metric tonnes of cocoa beans.

Deputy Minister of Finance, Ato Forson, told Joy Business that, inflows from the trade facility would go a long way to help improve the Bank of Ghana’s reserves, which would then help stabilize the cedi.

The sourcing of the facility also provides the nation with the opportunity to demonstrate its good track record on borrowing from the international finance market.

Presenting the report of the Finance Committee of Parliament on the facility, the Chairman of the committee, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, said the loan would enable COCOBOD get the needed funds to purchase cocoa for the season.

“Further, the approval of the waiver will also allow COCOBOD to use the entire syndicated facility for cocoa purchases and other related uses,” he said.